A fine Great War D.S.C. group of four awarded to Commissioned Gunner H. Turner, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallant part in the celebrated ‘Swift and Broke’ action of April 1917, himself firing one of the torpedoes that claimed an enemy destroyer - set ‘to run cold on the surface’

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1916; 1914-15 Star (Gnr. H. Turner, D.S.C., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Gnr. H. Turner, R.N.), generally very fine (4) £3000-4000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte.

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D.S.C. London Gazette 10 May 1917:

‘Awards for service in the action between H.M. Ships Swift and Broke and German destroyers, on the night of 20-21 April 1917.’

Henry Turner was born at Ponders End, Middlesex, in April 1882 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in August 1898. Commissioned as a Gunner (T.) in early 1912, he was serving in the the cruiser H.M.S. Antrim on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, but was invalided ashore on account of sickness in the same month. Having then returned to active duty as Gunner (T.) in the battleship Agincourt in March-May 1915, he removed to his first destroyer, the Opal, and thence, in September 1916, to the Swift, in which capacity he remained employed until the War’s end.

And of events on the night of 20-21 April 1917, the following is an extract from the official action report submitted by the C.O. of H.M.S. Swift, Commander A. M. Peck, R.N.:

‘I have the honour to report that while on patrol in company with H.M.S. Broke this morning at 0.45 a.m. in a position 3 miles to the eastward of South Goodwin Light Vessel, a division of 5 enemy destroyers were met with and engaged. We were steaming at 12 knots, when the enemy were sighted by the Leading Signalman on Watch on the port bow. Immediately afterwards, the enemy opened fire. I at once ordered full speed ahead both, and observing the enemy vessels to be steaming in line ahead on an opposite course, ordered hard-a-starboard with the intention of ramming if possible. Flashes from enemy’s funnels revealed their position and made it obvious they were working up to high speed.

We opened fire immediately. Owing to the blinding effect of the 6-inch gun we failed to ram, and passing through their line I found myself engaging closely an enemy vessel on my port side. The after torpedo, set to run cold on the surface, was observed to hit this ship on her starboard quarter [Turner’s handiwork], and she also suffered from our gun fire. One hit from the 6-inch gun setting fire to the fore end of the ship. She was at this time steering a diverging course about 150-300 yards on my port beam.

The course was again altered to port with the intention of ramming another vessel, but at this time all Officers on the bridge were very seriously incommoded by the flash of the 6-inch gun, the blinding effect of which lasted for half a minute or more and I attribute our failure to use the ram to this cause, as we undoubtedly passed very close under the stern of an enemy boat.

After thus missing her the helm was put hard-a-port and we commenced a chase of at least two enemy boats, engaging one nearly end on, and were still severely hampered by gun flash blindness. Shortly afterwards it was reported to me that the Stoker’s Mess Deck, which extends from 24 station to 46 station was flooded with four feet of water. This was the first intimation I had that we had suffered any damage to our hull. It had been reported a short time previously that the main W/T Installation was out of action as the aerial had been shot away. This had been done by a shell passing between the fore bridge and fore mast.

We had then been steering in an easterly direction at very high speed for about 10 minutes, and I concluded that I must be rapidly approaching the Barrage. This consideration together with the fact that I was ignorant of the extent of the damage to the fore mess deck induced me to abandon the chase. I therefore turned to try and find Broke whom I had lost sight of since the commencement of the action, switching on my fighting lights to ensure recognition. Shortly she flashed her name and pendants to me on an electric torch informing me that her lights were out and that she could only go dead slow. She was in the neighbourhood of an enemy destroyer badly on fire and in a sinking condition with a heavy list.

About this time I heard several voices in the water near the ship crying for help, but could see nothing owing to the pitch darkness. I sighted another destroyer right ahead of me broadside on and heard from her cries of ‘surrender’. Observing her to be very low in the water I switched the search light on her and watched her sink by the stern. I lowered boats as she went under and picked up survivors. We picked up altogether during the night and following daylight hours 6 unwounded Officers, 50 unwounded Men, 13 wounded and one dead.

I regret to report that we suffered one death casualty: J. Donell, Stoker Petty Officer, who was killed on the Stoker's Mess Deck, and four other Stokers were injured at the same time: F. Brien and Barnes seriously, S. Sykes and J. Brooks slightly.

I cannot speak too highly of the behaviour of all Officers and Men of H.M. Ships under my Command who behaved throughout in accordance with a high tradition of the service.’

Turner subsequently gave evidence before the Court of Enquiry assembled ‘to investigate the circumstances attending the action between H.M.S. Swift and H.M.S. Broke and the enemy on the night of 20-21 April 1917’, in which he confirmed seeing the enemy ship he torpedoed ‘going down like a stone’. Clearly the presiding officers agreed. He was awarded the D.S.M.

Having then been placed on the Retired List at his own request in August 1920, Turner was recalled on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, and served as a Commissioned Gunner at Vernon until released in October 1945. Sadly his retirement was short-lived, for he died at the R.N.H. Haslar in March 1947; sold with copied research.